Orlando—Taffy Event Strategies, the organizer of Coverings, has announced plans to move its 2021 in-person show from April to July. During a Coverings Connected webinar held today, Alberto Echavarría, secretary general ASCER, chairman of the board, Coverings 2021, confirmed the new show dates will be July 7-9.
According to the show, after consultation with many in the industry, the overwhelming sentiment was to reschedule to minimize the risks to all participants and to produce a safe and robust event. Rescheduling Coverings enables the show to move forward and provide the experience that its attendees, exhibitors, partners and the overall industry expects and deserves.
“We are excited with the new date for Coverings 2021 as rescheduling reaffirms Coverings’ commitment to produce a safe, in-person event to unite the tile and stone industry,” said Jennifer Hoff, president of Taffy Event Strategies. “The show management team and Coverings’ owners are working diligently to have a safe and successful Coverings 2021 event, and we are available to answer questions.”
Show organizers said Coverings, its vendor partners and the Orange County Convention Center where the show will be held are closely monitoring policy updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local government, state and federal mandates. For more information on Coverings’ safety measures, visit Coverings’ COVID-19 webpage.
Elena Grant, vice president of marketing for Taffy Event Strategies, added, “The show is now three days, but we do plan on extending the show hours. We still plan on providing a robust conference program with CEUs you would typically find at Coverings. We will be developing that schedule in the next few months and announcing that in February.”
Regarding attendance, Grant said it is difficult at this point in time to get a sense of what the attendance will be. “I don’t want to give you a specific number, but we are expecting a robust show,” she said. “We will be able to provide additional information about that in the upcoming months as we see the registration pattern.” Registration will be opening in mid-January.
Organizers said the show also plans on providing digital access to those who will not be able to attend the show in person. “We will be offering several sessions and access to the exhibitors and other ways to connect with the event,” Grant explained, adding that more information will be forthcoming in the next few months.
Show organizers also said the show will be offering an additional Coverings Connected event on April 28, between its Feb. 23 National Tile Event and the new July Coverings event.
Coverings 2022 will be held in Las Vegas.